Bicycle case

Abstract

A bicycle case having a pair of hinged container sections having opposed upper and bottom chambers for receiving the partially disassembled parts of a bicycle. The bottom chamber includes a pair of parallel longitudinal support bars secured to the opposite end walls of the bottom container section and a pair of transverse support bars having their end portions clamped to and slidably supported upon the longitudinal support bars. One or more tie devices, each including a clamp device for securing the tie devices to a corresponding transverse support bar and including a tie or strap member, are positioned along either or both transverse support bars for securing the strap member to a portion of the bicycle frame mounted upon the support bars. The bicycle case is uniquely adapted for containing all of the partially disassembled parts of a mountain bike to facilitate transportation of the mountain bike.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A case for receiving a disassembled bicycle, comprising: (a) an elongated bottom container section having a bottom wall, opposed elongated side walls, and opposed end walls defining a bottom chamber large enough to receive a bicycle frame and an assembled rear wheel, and having an upper opening,   (b) an elongated top container section having a top wall, opposed elongated side walls, and opposed end walls defining an upper chamber of substantially the same length and width as said bottom chamber and having a depth great enough to receive flat against said top wall the disassembled front wheel of the bicycle frame received in said bottom chamber, and having a lower opening,   (c) said top and bottom container sections having a closed position in which said corresponding side and end walls engage each other and said upper and lower openings oppose each other to enclose the contents of said container sections, and an open position in which said container sections are separated,   (d) a bicycle support system comprising first and second longitudinal support bars in said bottom chamber having opposite ends secured to said opposed end walls of said bottom section, said longitudinal support bars being spaced from said bottom wall and parallel to each other,   (e) said bicycle support system further comprising a pair of transverse support bars having lengths less than the width of said bottom section and having first and second end portions,   (f) first clamp means connected to said first end portions and second clamp means connected to said second end portions, said first clamp means slidably engaging said first longitudinal support bar and said second clamp means slidably engaging said second longitudinal support bar,   (g) means for actuating said clamp means to selectively secure said clamp means on said corresponding longitudinal support bar, and   (h) at least one tie device, each said tie device comprising a clamp member adapted to adjustably secure said tie device upon a transverse support bar, and a tie member adapted to be secured around a component of a bicycle frame assembly received on said support system.   
     
     
       2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said at least one tie device comprises a first tie device having its clamp member secured to one of said transverse support bars and a second tie device having its clamp member secured to said other transverse support bar, said first tie device being adapted to be mounted adjacent the rim of the rear wheel assembled on a bicycle frame received on said support system, said tie member on said first tie device being large enough to encircle and hold the rim of said rear wheel, said second tie device being adapted to be mounted adjacent a frame portion of said bicycle frame received on said support system, said tie member of said second tie device being large enough to encircle and secure said frame portion. 
     
     
       3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said clamp member comprises a clevis clamp having jaws on opposite sides of a corresponding transverse support bar slidably engaging said transverse support bar and screw means for moving said clamp jaws toward and away from each other for tightening and loosening said clevis clamp upon said transverse support bar. 
     
     
       4. The invention according to claim 3 further comprising means pivotally connecting said tie member to said clevis clamp to permit swivel movement between said tie member and said clamp member. 
     
     
       5. The invention according to claim 4 in which said tie member comprises a strap member having clasp means for securing said tie member around a part of a bicycle frame received on said support system. 
     
     
       6. The invention according to claim 1 in which each of said first and second clamp means comprises a clevis clamp having opposed jaws adapted to slidably receive a corresponding portion of said longitudinal support bar, and screw means for moving said jaws toward and away from each other in order to tighten and loosen said clevis clamp jaws upon said longitudinal support bar. 
     
     
       7. The invention according to claim 6 further comprising socket means on each of said clevis clamps of said first and second clamp means for receiving the corresponding end portion of a transverse support bar. 
     
     
       8. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising means securing the rim of a front wheel disassembled from a bicycle frame against said top wall within said upper chamber. 
     
     
       9. The invention according to claim 2 further comprising a third tie device having a clamp member adjustably secured to said transverse support bar upon which said second tie device is mounted, the tie member of said third tie device being adapted to be secured about a portion of the handle bar disassembled from a bicycle frame received in said bottom chamber.